LECTURE 5

Plane Wave Representation for a Symmetric Waveguide

Upward field can be expressed as: = 0 ( .) = 0 (x+z)
Downward field can be expressed as: = 0 ( .) = 0 (x+z)
Here,

= x + z
= +
= +

The mode field can be found through the superposition of the plane wave
components. Assuming that these are in phase,

= + = 20 cos(x) (z)
The above equation, in real instantaneous form, can be written as,

(, t) = 20 cos(x) cos(z t)
=k1sin (is discretized)

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Discrete Waveguide Modes

Mode:
The stable field distribution in the transverse direction with only a periodic
longitudinal dependence is known as a waveguide mode.
Modes depend on angle of incidences ( = ) which are discrete in
nature.
Propagation constants ( ) also can take discrete values.
The guided mode with m = 0 is called the fundamental mode.
Modes with m = 1, 2 are high-order modes.
m gives the number of nodes in the transverse standing wave pattern.

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Effective Refractive Index

Waveguide phase velocity can be defined as, =

Effective refractive index can be defined as, =

Or, =

= 1

The effective refractive index is a key parameter in guided wave propagation, just
as the refractive index is in unguided travel.
The condition for guiding the wave: 2 1
At = 0 , = 1
A ray traveling parallel to the slab (core) has an effective refractive index
that depends on the guiding medium alone.
At = 90 , = 1 cos( 90 ) = 1 = 2
The effective refractive index for critical-angle rays depends only on the
outer material (n2).
The changes with the wavelength due to different discrete . This is known
as waveguide dispersion.

The wavelength measured in the waveguide: =

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